Field Sobriety Tests in Virginia DUI Cases

Handled By Our Skilled DUI Lawyer in Harrisonburg

If you are a suspected DUI driver in Virginia, police officers will ask
you to perform one or more roadside field sobriety tests as part of their
DUI/DWI investigation.
Field sobriety tests are voluntary and there is no penalty for refusing
to perform them. Each DUI field sobriety test has specific ways in which it should be administered
by the officer. The goal of most sobriety tests is to measure how well
you can divide your attention among multiple tasks.

Harrisonburg DUI Attorney Bob Keefer has been certified as a Standardized
Field Sobriety Test Instructor. He comprehensively understands the science
behind these tests and knows how to analyze the officer’s administration
of the test to you, and your performance on the tests. Having an attorney
skilled in these tests is an important element in building your defense
against a DUI charge.

For more information about field sobriety tests and how our Harrisonburg
DUI lawyer can help you, call us today at (540) 251-0406 or
contact us online to set up a free consultation.

How to Handle Field Sobriety Tests

If you are asked to submit to these tests you should politely refuse to
perform the tests. Virginia courts still allow officers to testify about
your performance on the tests even if they incorrectly administer them.
This violates the fundamental purpose of scientific testing, which holds
that the results of scientific experiments and tests are only valid if
they are administered in exact accordance with proper protocols.

There are both standardized and non-standardized tests. The standardized
tests are those that were scientifically validated by the federal government
over 30 years ago. The non-standardized tests were not validated, even
after extensive testing. Validation simply means that if the officer administers
the test is the same exact manner in which they were created, the officer
will be able to tell within a certain percentage whether a person is impaired.
It does not mean that the officer will be able to tell for sure whether
you were intoxicated.

Providing Effective Defense against DUI Charges

There are many different defenses to each DUI field sobriety test. Some
tests are not valid for people who have suffered head, neck, back, or
leg injuries. Some tests are not valid for people who have diseases of
the eyes. Still, other tests are not valid for people who have attention
deficit disorder or mental health issues, such as PTSD.

If you have been stopped or arrested for DUI or any traffic crime, contact
Harrisonburg DUI Attorney Bob Keefer right now for a free, no obligation
case evaluation at (540) 251-0406.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.